Pharmacy Technician Schools in Iowa - IA

Education Requirements for Pharmacy Technicians in Iowa

A high school diploma or GED is the minimum requirement for a job as a pharmacy technician in the state of Iowa. However, many employers expect that job candidates have formal training through Iowa pharmacy technician schools online in addition to on-the-job experience, because pharmacy technician are taking over some of the responsibilities that traditionally belonged to pharmacists. You will want to find a pharmacy technician education program that is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), which is recognized by the state of Iowa. Pharmacy technician education programs exist in both brick-and-mortar schools and online programs. Here, you will take courses in dosage management, medical history, pharmacy settings, calculating prescriptions, customer service, biopharmaceutics, and more. Most pharmacy technician training programs are at least 60 hours.

While not technically required by the state of Iowa, it is recommended by the national certification organizations that pharmacy technicians be recertified every two years. Depending upon which national examination you took, the recertification process will be different.

If you took the ExCPT (Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians), you must recertify every two years. You must show proof of 20 hours of continuing education courses taken within the two years prior to recertification. You may use the ICPT Recertification Application Form (available at icpt.alpha5host.com/app.a5w?A5W_Sess_ID=ef7b91febc4b4a2d87cfe442b887fa6b) and pay a $40 recertification fee.

If you took the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) Exam, you must also recertify every two years. This also requires that you take 20 hours of continuing education courses within the two-year period prior to recertification. You can use the form found online at www.ptcb.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Apply_for_Recertification&Template=/CM/ContentCombo.cfm&NavMenuID=567&ContentID=2464, and pay an $80 recertification fee.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Pharmacy Techs in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Saint Luke's Hospital, and Genesis Medical Center East.